New Compressor

[Daveomd]

Time to buy a compressor and I haven't really been paying attention to what's out there right now. Main basses are '66 & '68 Ps and "69 & '73 Jazzes. Rig is early '90s SM 400 w/ Aguilar DB12 & DB210 cabs. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[iamdenialNJ]

I like my Demeter Compulator A LOT. But then again...I have only used a behringer and boss compressors in the past.

 

[walker rosewood]

The Aguilar TLC and Markbass Compressore are two new comp's everyone's making a lot of fuss over.

 

[James Hart]

http://maxonfx.com/Nine_CP9.php

 

[Swift713]

I like the Maxon but you should check out Bongomania's reviews.
http://www.ovnilab.com/index.shtml

 

[newbold]

limiter, squash, studio compressor, light opto? what do you want?

Do you want a threshold, or attack/release settings?

simple, complex, high/low ratio?

do you want analog? tube?

 

[NickInMesa]

Modded CS-3

 

[Daveomd]

Thanks for the replies. Prefer something relatively easy to use, used to have a dbx 163, doesn't get much simpler than that. I recently upgraded the rig and was just trying to get a feel of what everyone was liking these days. That Aguilar looks pretty nice-specially since I just nabbed a DB 924 today.

 

[thirtypoint87]

EBS.......

 

[HeyyyyyJoe]

I really like the EBS Multicomp and Toadworks Mr. Squishy. Currently, the EBS Multicomp is the only effect / pedal I use at the moment and it's always on.

 

[Nerotic]

+1 on the MultiComp. Simple and effective.

 

[Lowest End]

I use one of the channels on a DBX 266XL. I like it, it does what I want it to. No complaints.

 

[FromTheBassMent]

I don't care for a Ross-style compression on bass (MXR, Keeley, or even the Retro-Sonic that I LOVE in my guitar rig), because to me that circuit sounds too artificial and squashed for bass.

I don't think you could go wrong with any of these... but they all have their strengths and weaknesses, so as others have suggested, check Bongo's reviews:

Aguilar TLC
Maxon CP-9 Pro+
Demeter Compulator
Rothwell Love Squeeze
Markbass Compressore
EBS Multicomp

When I get back from my trip to CA next week I'm ordering a bit of an outlier... the OKKO Coca Compressor from Germany. It's kind of a reversed compression circuit that brings your low level signal up while not really squashing your high level dynamics. So it's not for someone looking for limiting! I'm hoping it will add some chewy sustain to my fretless.

 

[woodsideh]

I use one of the channels on a DBX 266XL. I like it, it does what I want it to. No complaints.

+1 on the DBX 266XL. I use both channels. Works great for me.

 

[Swift713]

I recall the Demeter sounded really nice through headphones but it didn't sound as impressive with my rig at the time. I think my Trace AH200 and Eden 112 cloaked it's beauty in their own mid-humpy flavor. Also, it was a little noisy with my one spot. I've been thinking I'd like to try it again but the Maxon is so dead simple idiot proof and clear.

 

[stjohn1299]

It's not boutique like any of the others mentioned, but I just picked up a BBE Opto Stomp. It's very transparent, and when dialed in, doesn't affect my tone, it just smoothes it out. The best thing is it's possible to retain picking dynamics if it's dialed in the right way. No wait...this is the best part: I got it off Amazon for $60, when it's regularly $99.99. For that price, you can't beat it.